When her father's ne'er-do-well rum running brother returns to Gunmetal, Texas, after 20 years away, she thinks she might have the beginnings of her adventure. She tries to learn what sent Rory MacGregor off to Galveston and other parts unknown, but he is tight lipped about his previous life. He does let on that his girlfriend's husband might be trying to kill him. He keeps promising to tell Wallie his story, but something always interferes.
That tantalizes Wallie and she is determined to learn more about his exploits, to her judge father's dismay and the annoyance of her Aunt Ida. When a freak accident claims a life and the police chief and her father refuse to believe it wasn't an accident, Wallie tries to prove them wrong. She coerces her aunt to take her to Galveston so she can investigate Rory's life and become acquainted with his friends, especially her girlfriend Vivian.
When arrive in Galveston, they find it a rough and tumble, lawless place in the 1920s. Using the few names of places Rory frequent in Galveston, she tracks down the Chop Suey Club owned by two brothers from Sicily. Thinking the Club is a fine restaurant, she encourages her aunt to take her there. What she discovers are several flappers and a couple of gangsters who knew Rory. The hijacks continue as she and the gangsters are menaced by several other gangsters from Chicago. All in all Wallie has a wonderful adventure and discovers some vital information in her case. When she returns home, she is able to solve the case and find true love.
After You've Gone is a prequel to the Austin Starr Mystery series, but it is a fine standalone novel.
Disclosure: I received the book from the publisher.
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